BLOG: Remington Outdoor Company Bringing 2,000 Jobs to Huntsville

This is an archived article and the information in the article may be outdated. Please look at the time stamp on the story to see when it was last updated.

BLOG: Remington Outdoor Company Bringing 2,000 Jobs to Huntsville

L to R: Governor Robert Bentley presents Robert Kollitides, CEO Of Remington Arms, with the Alabama Great Seal on Monday, February 17, 2014. (Photo: Shane Hays/WHNT News 19)

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) – The week started off with a bang for Huntsville, as Governor Robert Bentley, city, county and state leaders welcomed Remington Outdoor Company.

The United States’ oldest manufacturer of firearms will add a facility in Huntsville, bringing more than 2,000 jobs over the next decade.

Remington Arms’ CEO George Kollitides was in attendance and said Alabama was the clear choice.

“The state motto says it all,” Kollitides said as he started his speech. “We Dare Defend Our Rights.”

Scroll to the bottom to read our blog of the day’s events. Here are videos from each of the speakers – click on each one to watch the various announcements:

Remington will buy a 500,000-square-foot building on Wall Triana Highway for manufacturing, new product development and training for the company’s commercial, military and law enforcement businesses.

The Military Times’ GearScout website reported the news on Friday. No city, county or state leaders would officially confirm the news over the weekend, only saying there was a big economic development announcement planned for Monday. However, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-Alabama) confirmed Remington would be it.

The Huntsville City Council also called a special meeting Monday to approve an incentives package for Remington.

The governor of Alabama, mayor of Huntsville, TVA chairman, chairmen of the Madison, Morgan, and Limestone County Commissions, congressmen, and many more elected and appointed officials are in attendance.

Videos added above – click on each one to see the various announcements from Remington CEO George Kollitedes, Alabama Governor Robert Bentley, Alabama Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle and Madison County Commission Chairman Dale Strong.

We’re now live blogging from the Huntsville City Council Chambers, where
council members and Mayor Tommy Battle are expected to talk about
“Project Traveler,” the code name for Remington’s move to Huntsville.

Rod Kanter, who helped construct the development agreement, said that the first phase of local incentives provided by the city totals $12.5 million dollars for the acquisition of the facility and capital for its improvement.

The money will be provided in installments, provided that Remington hires the projected number of employees agreed upon and the average salary meets the agreed upon amount.

The second phase of incentive is a $2.0 million incentive that is set up to be an incentive program.

When an agreed upon number of full time employees are hired, incentive money will be made available to the company. For every 250 full time employees are hired, $500,000 will be given to Remington, up to the full $2.0 million.

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce CEO Chip Cherry said the capital investment by Remington is projected to be $110,900,000 and its estimated annual payroll is projected to be $105,000,000, at full employment.

Mayor Tommy Battle said that they City of Huntsville is making a long term investment in a long term industry. He says that the city has safeguards in place to protect the city and the taxpayers in case Remington is unable to fulfill their end of the economic development agreement.

These type of economic development projects come along every five to six years. Mayor Battle says he has received messages from mayors across the state, wishing they had the same decision to make about if to bring a major manufacturer to town or not.

22 comments

Wake Up

New York did not send these jobs to Alabama. They are the result of more than $50,000,000 of taxpayer funds being given to Remington. I have no problem with doing such things. I just get irritated when conservatives talk about slowing down government spending and than break their arms patting themselves on the back for using government spending to benefit things they like. When you have governments using tax money to help for-profit companies make money it is by definition a socialist idea (government interference with free-markets). True free-market philosophy would say that for-profit companies should make it on their own. True free-market philosophy says that they make their money by risking their capital — not the taxpayer’s capital! As I always say, everyone likes socialism when it benefits them! I have been proven right again!!

Mike

Have you ever heard of, Return On Investment? apparently not. Like any other business you have to invest to get a business going and then start reaping the benefits. The state of Alabama and City of Huntsville invested our tax dollars wisely in this deal as it will employ at least 2000 persons and bring in many tax dollars to the state and city in a very short time. This is a win-win deal because the federal government was not involved.

Wake Up

Mike, I said in my post that I agree with the government helping for-profit companies make more money. As I said, when the government uses tax payer money to make businesses profitable it is by definition socialism. I am just glad top see that Alabama is a socialist run government.

We can pile on more debt to help profitable companies become even more profitable. Interestingly, we do not seem to be able to find the money to give school teachers and state employees (firemen, state police officers, etc) a raise. They have not been given a raise in many years. I would consider teacher’s and other state employees’ pay an investment in our future.

I would like to see teachers being important enough for us to put money into that activity for a return on our investment — the education of the next generation.

Skillpot

Skillpot

Now, it is good to see the INCENTIVES added for performance: “When an agreed upon number of full time employees are hired, incentive money will be made available to the company. For every 250 full time employees are hired, $500,000 will be given to Remington, up to the full $2.0 million.”

Christopher

Doug Berry

Fantastic news for Huntsville and Remington too. I’m sure there will be company transplants from New York. I just hope there are as many locals offered employment opportunities as workers from out of state. I’m extremely interested in sending them my resume.

Wake Up

Doug, it is good that many New Yorkers will be moving to Alabama. The more “non-natives” that come to Alabama the less “traditional” the state will be! The diversity that this will bring our state will go a long way to making this area more progressive!!

JeffO

You really don’t want NY transplants: their progressive voting record has destroyed the state. Many of the companies located there are leaving, having been taxed out, OSHA’d out, unionized out, etc. We’ve got these folks moving to northeast PA too, and the entire landscape is quickly changing. Be careful what you wish for, you too may soon have your own SAFE act!

Jon

Glad to see new jobs but at what cost? I live right around the corner from the old Chrysler plant. I am worried after doing a little research about Remington’s past production sights. A few of them are part of the EPA’s clean up superfund for hazardous materials. With lead, heavy metals and other toxic waste being dumped into pits, unlined lagoons and burning areas. There are many new homes and subdivisions within 1 mile of this plant as well as Triana and the Tennessee River (with connecting lagoons) within 6 miles.

Wake Up

Jon, the deal made to Chrysler (and other companies that left after the “incentives” ran out or another state offered them a better giveaway deal) was the exciting news of the past. You are correct about potential problems. People need to look at the history of Remington in Arkansas!

kim

Patsy J. Kelsoe

How great for the people of Alabama. I am very interested in information for employment. Will be willing to relocate from Cullman, participate in training and any special course for the opportunity to work for Remington.

Pete

This comment is for Wake Up. It is not meant to be derogatory or demeaning. The reason we cannot find money for teachers or state employees or we have to cut back on the brave hero’s (Military) who keep us safe isn’t because we’re giving incentives to businesses that will be paid back. It’s due to giving it countries who despise us and to all of the money we give to those who WILL NOT look for employment because the liberal government gives them a paycheck for NOT working. One of the worst travesties is the money given to illegal aliens and the cost involved in them being here. We also give money to THOUSANDS of folks living in Mexico who only have to walk across the border (in California) to the U.S., grab their check out of the P.O. box, cash it and return to their homes in Mexico AS SEEN ON THE NEWS. Let’s never complain about giving tax dollars to for-profit business that will be paid back unless we’re talking about Solindra and all the other business NOBAMA gave our money to………..this ends my rant. I feel much better now. Thanks for listening.